Boy has big heart, and very big ideas

Nov. 16, 2012

Written by

Jami Kinton

News Journal

Dylan Parsons

What: Dylan’s Toy Drive and Craft Show. When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Where: The Darr Event Center, 5780 Ohio 13, in Bellville. Note: A silent auction will take place from 9 to 2 p.m. and lunch will be available. All new toys donated will be delivered to Akron Children’s Hospital on Dec. 14. Only new toys can be accepted by the hospital.

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ASHLAND — Heather Parsons was in tears as she watched her 8-year-old son push a box of his toys out of his bedroom.

“He said to me, ‘Mom? Can we go back to (Akron Children’s Hospital)?’ ” the Ashland mother said. “He said he wanted to give away all his toys to the children there who didn’t have parents to give them any.”

On Nov. 1, 2010, Dylan’s little sister Dalynn, only 8 weeks old at the time, underwent heart surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital for a double aortic arch.

The rare condition affects only one in a million babies. Dalynn recovered well and was out of the hospital in just four days, but it was long enough to make a lasting impression on her big brother.

“When we were in the PICU, there was a little girl next to us who never seemed to have her parents around,” Heather said. “Dylan asked me, ‘Mom, where is her mom and dad?’ We had to explain to him that not all kids have parents who are around all the time. He started crying and said, ‘I feel sorry for these kids.’”

When the family returned home a few days later, Dylan asked his mother for a box.

“He’s very creative and is always making garages and things out of boxes for his cars,” Heather said. “That’s what I figured it was for.”

But soon Dylan, just 6 at the time, was pushing out the box filled to the brim with his toys.

“I called my husband and asked what we should do,” Heather said. “We had to tell him that the toys the children in the hospital get have to be new so that they’re germ-free.

“Then he asked me how much birthday money he had left and asked if I could take him shopping. I told him that was very nice, but we didn’t want him to use his money for that because that money was for him, so his dad and I gave him $100.”

Together, the family purchased two carts of toys to be delivered to Akron.

With the help of family and friends, last year Dylan and his cousin Dalton Hickey, 10, raised more than $300, delivering gifts once again to Akron Children’s Hospital.

“I remember picking out a Matchbox car, a Barbie ... and Angry Bird pillows because the ones at the hospital are junky, white ones,” Dylan said.